The Storm
By: Angel-With-Attitude
Chapter 8 - Back to the Past
The next morning Kagome woke up early to get ready for her day of school. She had a test that she needed to take today in order to try and keep up with her marks and she had spent the rest of the night studying after supper.
She managed to get out of bed without disrupting the sleeping half demon and went into the bathroom to change into her high school uniform. When she went back to her room to get her schoolbag, she heard Inuyasha mumble something in his sleep.
She quietly walked over to Inuyasha who was still sleeping in her bed and knelt down in front of him, studying his face. He had a worried expression painted on his sleeping face and when she got closer, she heard the dog demon mumble her name,.
"No… Kagome…. No," he mumbled as she gripped the pillow at his head.
"It's ok Inuyasha, it's just a nightmare." Kagome whispered and placed a soft kiss on his cheek before leaving her room to head off to school.
Along her walk to school she tried to look over the equations that were going to be on the upcoming test but she couldn't get Inuyasha's sleep-mumbling out of her head. Her mind wandered away from the test subject and found herself pondering about Inuyasha's nightmare.
o-o-o-o
Her test was as easy as could be expected for her night-before cramming and as soon as she handed in her test, Kagome made her way back home to pack for her return to the Feudal Era.
When she arrived home, she was greeted by Inuyasha who was standing by the God Tree. Studying his face, Kagome didn't see any trouble from the nightmare he had this morning but he had a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"Hi," she greeted as she walked up to the dog demon who was dressed in his fire rat pants and his white undershirt. "Well I'm done school for now, so I guess we can get back to your time."
"Yeah…" Inuyasha smiled down at the raven haired girl. He didn't say anything else but lifted his hand and ran his claws through Kagome's long hair, studying her eyes.
Kagome caught Inuyasha's hand in hers and looked up into his eyes. "What's the matter?" She asked with concern. She had never seen his some quiet before.
"It's nothing," the dog demon shook his head and his eyes showed that he pushed this thoughts away. "Come on, we should start parking."
Kagome didn't push the issue and followed Inuyasha as they walked to her house to start packing for their trip to the other side of the well.
After a quick lunch the two busied themselves with packing the big yellow backpack with supplies needed to take back to the Feudal Era. While they packed, they stayed quiet as they were busy with their thoughts. They knew this was it; the last time they were going to be in Kagome's time before their final battle with Naraku.
This was it.
"Mom?" Kagome called from the upstairs bathroom. "Where is the extra first aid kit?"
"It's on the second shelf from the top, on your right." Her mother answered from the living room at the base of the stairs.
When the two were finished packing the backpack, Kagome counted inventory to make double sure that they had everything that they needed.
"Blankets?" Kagome's mother read off the list, getting a 'check' from Kagome who was rooting through the backpack. "Clean clothes? Two first aid kits?" She continued down the list, getting a 'double check' from her daughter. "Ramen?"
"Uh…" Kagome searched through the big yellow bag but couldn't find the packets of instant noodles. She rummaged through everything a second time but it still was nowhere to be found. "Where…?"
"Check," Inuyasha's voice said from behind her. The raven haired girl turned around to see Inuyasha standing there, arms filled with cups of ramen.
"Why so much? We're going to go and kill Naraku, not have a picnic." Kagome said, stuffing them all in her already oversized backpack.
When everything was accounted for and packed away in the backpack, Inuyasha took the oversized back and slung it over his shoulder. The Higurashi family walked the two out to the little shrine building that housed the well that would take Kagome and Inuyasha back to the Feudal Era. When they arrived to the well house, Inuyasha placed the bag down and turned to watch Kagome say goodbye to her family.
"Bye Sota." Kagome hugged her little brother tightly. Ever since she saw Sango's pain of losing her little brother, Kagome took the time to spend more time with Sota. Nothing would be worse than losing her little brother; she saw that in Sango's eyes every time she mentioned Kohaku.
Kagome then turned to hug her mother. "You'll be alright Kagome, come back to us." Mrs. Higurashi said, hugging her daughter close. "And when you come back, we'll celebrate!" Kagome pulled away and Mrs. Higurashi kissed her forehead. "Good luck."
While Kagome was giving her grandfather a hug and saying a few words to the old man, Inuyasha watched as Kagome's mother walked up to him. "You take good care of her Inuyasha."
The half demon blinked twice at Mrs. Higurashi's words before nodding down at the woman. "Of course," he smiled but then stiffened when she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. His eyes went wide for a moment, Mrs. Higurashi's hug reminded him of his mother's hugs when he was a child.
"You take good care of yourself too," Kagome's mother said as she pulled away from the half demon and offered him a smile.
With goodbyes done, the family left the two alone in the well house with a cheery 'Good luck'. When they were alone, Kagome and Inuyasha walked up to the well. Before jumping down, Kagome offered Inuyasha a quick smile but only got a thoughtful expression back from the half demon.
Seeing the troubled looked from Inuyasha, Kagome tilted her head to the side with confusion. "What's wrong?" She asked a second time, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"It's nothing." Inuyasha huffed, his eyes turning away from Kagome for a moment. But he couldn't leave it alone any longer. "I had a nightmare last night, about how Naraku tricked me and Kikyo. But then it wasn't about Kikyo, it was about Naraku hurting you."
Kagome nodded, understanding Inuyasha's worry. "We'll be fine Inuyasha. No matter what happens, we'll be ok. Because we trust each other, Naraku won't be able to trick us like what happened to you and Kikyo in the past."
Inuyasha turned to Kagome, meeting her brown eyes with his. His mind still couldn't get away from the nightmare the night before. It seemed so real, like he was back when it happened; when Kikyo pinned him to the sacred tree and bound him in a spell where he slept for 50 years before Kagome found him. It was what tore him and Kikyo apart and he wouldn't admit his weakness but it was a great fear of his that Naraku would capture Kagome and he would be too weak to save her.
The half demon slung the backpack on his shoulder and picked Kagome up in his arms. Without saying anything else, Inuyasha gave Kagome a quick kiss on the cheek which seemed to put the smile back on her face before they jumped down into the well and back to the Feudal Era.
When they got to the other side, no one was there to greet their arrival. Helping Kagome out of the well, they headed towards the village where they were sure they would find their friends. They had been gone a whole two days without the rest of the group knowing if they made up from the argument. The group has no idea what had happened in the last two days – Kagome and Inuyasha left being in a huge argument and now they were coming back as engaged to be married? It was a total 180 degree change!
When they arrived at the village, the people were out and about either farming or rebuilding houses. The two walked to Keade's hut and were about to announce that they were back when Kagome was suddenly tackled by something furry.
"Kagome! I thought you were never coming back!" Shippo cried as the little fox kit clung onto her neck. "I thought Inuyasha messed up real bad this time and you weren't going to come back!"
"Oh Shippo!" Kagome laughed as she pulled the little the kit from her neck to hold him in her arms. "No no, Inuyasha and I aren't fighting anymore," she laughed, and smiled at the half demon beside her. "In fact, we're far from fighting."
"Huh, what's that supposed to mean?" Shippo questioned, jumping from Kagome's arms onto Inuyasha's shoulder. "I thought because Kagome didn't come back, that you really messed up. Did you do something right for a change?"
A growl came from the half demon as he tried to grab Shippo but the little fox demon was already in Kagome's arms, hiding away from Inuyasha's threatening attack.
"Ah Kagome you have returned to us," Miroku greeted as he and Sango walked out from the hut to see the two were back. "We were beginning to think that you weren't coming back."
Sango nodded at Miroku's words. "Inuyasha must have done something right for a change."
Inuyasha's growl grew louder as he glared at his friends in front of him. "What is that supposed to mean! I do things right!"
Kagome couldn't help but laugh as she watched the half demon growl at their friends. "Inuyasha calm down will you, they're just joking. Of course you do things right. But you got to admit; sometimes you can over do it at times."
The half demon turned around with a frustrated look on his face. "Kagome how could you! You're my mate – supposed to be on my side!"
Sango, Miroku and Shippo who up until then were giggling at Inuyasha's frustration suddenly drew quiet as they heard Inuyasha's remark. "Mate!" They all said questionably with wide eyes.
Inuyasha and Kagome turned to their friends with questioning looks and then realized their outcry. "Oh yeah, uhh… about that. Inuyasha and I aren't fighting anymore – far from it actually. Umm well you see… we're kind of mates now."
Shippo jumped up on Inuyasha's shoulder again. "Wait, you asked Kagome to be your mate?" His green eyes were wide with curiosity.
Inuyasha folded his arms into his haori sleeves. "Yeah, what of it?" He asked gruffly, not comfortable with all of the attention he was getting.
The monk, fox demon and demon exterminator were quiet for a moment, looking at each other and then at the half demon. "Yup, Inuyasha did something right for a change."
Inuyasha growled again as he showed a fist to his friends. "What is that's supposed to mean!"
o-o-o-o
Kagome and Inuyasha took turns explaining what the others missed during supper of ramen noodles. They explained everything that happened from the moment Kagome and Inuyasha had run out into the storm.
After the explanation was over, the group got down to work and started to plan their attack on Naraku. The evil demon had to be stopped; there were so many lives at stake.
Miroku's curse, the Wind Tunnel would be lifted when Naraku would be killed. The Wind Tunnel curse was created when Naraku placed it on Miroku's grandfather that would pass through the males in each generation; Miroku being the current. Each year, the Wind Tunnel would grow bigger until it was uncontrollable and would suck everything up into its path – including Miroku in his death.
Another reason was for Sango's younger brother Kohaku to be saved from his evil slavery under Naraku's control. It all started during one night when the strongest of their family's demon slayers – including Sango, their father and men of the village – went to a nearby castle to kill a demon that was plaguing the kingdom. It was Kohaku's first time going out on an extermination – but the night ended in bloodshed and horrible deaths. Kohaku was controlled by the demon under Naraku's control and killed everyone in the demon slayer team, including their father. To make things worse, while the strongest slayers were out a hoard of demons attacked Sango's village and killed everyone – leaving Sango all alone and out for revenge.
Naraku continued to use Kohaku for his evil ploy; using a Shikon Jewel shard in the boy's back to keep him alive for his evil dirty work. Kohaku had none of his memories, he couldn't remember the night he killed everyone and he couldn't remember Sango was his older sister. Sango had been plagued by nightmares ever since, seeing her younger brother being controlled by the evil demon Naraku.
After supper was cleaned up, the group decided that they would leave tomorrow morning. With everything already packed up, they suddenly didn't have anything to do. With nothing to do, the girls decided to take a soak in the hot springs nearby.
As the girls left, the guys stayed at the hut to continue planning their attack on Naraku. When the girl's voices faded as they walked towards the hot springs, Keade excused herself from the hut to go and check up on a child in the village who had come down with a cold. That left Miroku, Inuyasha and Shippo alone in the hut.
While the little fox demon sat on the floor colouring with his crayons and the half demon sat against the wall with his eyes closed. That left the monk to tend to the fire, and let his perverted mind wander.
"So…" The monk started.
Inuyasha's eyes opened, a growl already starting in his throat. "What?"
"Oh nothing. Just wanted to congratulate you on asking Kagome to be with you," Miroku laughed.
"That so?" Inuyasha's eyebrow raised behind his bangs, the growl was growing more in his throat.
"Yes. It's one of the steps to becoming a man," Miroku nodded wisely. But Inuyasha could see the glint in his purple eyes.
Shippo looked up from his colouring and looked at the monk. "Steps to becoming a man? What's the next step Miroku?" The young kit questioned.
"Ah what a great question to ask Shippo," Miroku nodded. "You see, when two people love each other very much…."
WHAM!
"Not in front of the kid you pervert!" Inuyasha growled, his fist steaming from the hit he just gave the monk who now lay on the ground swirly eyed. His head was bowed so the fox demon wouldn't see that there was a slight blush on his cheeks.
o-o-o-o
Meanwhile in the forest where the girls were at the hot springs, Kagome and Sango were enjoying the peacefulness of the hot water. The two girls were quiet for a while, just letting the hot water soak into their sore muscles. After a while of relaxing, Kagome opened her eyes and looked over at Sango who was looking off into the trees in thought.
"Are you ok Sango?" The raven haired girl asked as she watched the demon slayer sign heavily. "What's on your mind?"
"Oh it's nothing. Just thinking about useless things," the demon slayer laughed, waving her hand as if the topic on her mind wasn't anything to be concerned about.
"Thinking about a certain monk?" Kagome guessed and couldn't help but giggle when she watched Sango's expression turn to shock and then turn red with blush.
"Wh-What do you mean? I don't know what you're talking about Kagome. I wouldn't waste my time worrying about that lecherous monk," the demon exterminator stammered, her face turning a brighter red.
But after a moment of stammering the demon exterminator calmed down. Sango sighed again, "It's just so romantic how Inuyasha confessed his love to you Kagome."
Kagome smiled, a tint of blush appearing on her cheeks as she thought about Inuyasha. "Yeah... Too bad Miroku isn't like that, eh Sango?" She asked, letting her smile turn into a smirk.
"Yeah..." Sango sighed in a daydream-like way but then caught herself. "Wait, what!" The demon slayer knew that she let her feeling slip out and couldn't stop the blush from highlighting her face. She hid lower in the water to try and hide the embarrassment.
"Sango calmed down, it's alright." Kagome laughed as she tried to settle the other girl down. "You don't have to cover it up; I know you have strong feelings for Miroku. I'm sure Miroku will express his feelings to you someday, I'm sure he's just waiting for the right time."
The young demon slayer was quiet for a moment, letting Kagome's words sink in. With another sign, Sango looked up at her best friend and smiled. "I hope you're right Kagome. Thanks, for everything."
"Of course," Kagome smiled
After Kagome's comment, there was a pause of silence between the girls. They stayed in the hot springs for a little while longer, soaking in the relaxing feeling of the water. After a little while, the girls were about to get out but not before asking Kilala to check the area around them for any one, lecherous monk or otherwise. When Kilala came back with nothing to report the girls got out and got dressed.
"I'm surprised that Miroku did come and try to take a peek... not that I want him to," Sango said but added the last part defensively.
"Don't worry Sango, no need to get all defensive. Besides, I'm sure Inuyasha held him back so he couldn't come." Kagome giggled as she fixed the ribbon on her shirt.
o-o-o-o
When the girls were changed and had their things packed up, they headed back to the village to rejoin the guys at Keade's hut. They were in the middle of giggling at a joke Sango was sharing when they entered the hut and saw Miroku laying on the floor swirly eyed, Inuyasha sitting against the wall with his hands in his sleeves.
"Why did you have to whack him so many times?" Shippo asked as he finished one colouring and moved onto the next.
"He was bugging me," Inuyasha said simply as he opened his eyes and looked up at Kagome who sat down beside him. "And I knocked him out so he couldn't go after the girls."
Sango couldn't hold in her laugh as she looked down at the unconscious monk. The young demon slayer kneeled down to help Miroku up from the floor. "What a troublesome monk," She laughed.
"Don't see why you're helping him Sango," Inuyasha huffed while sitting beside Kagome. "If you help him up, he's just going to…"
WHACK! SMACK!
"See what I mean," Inuyasha pointed out as she watched Miroku's hand migrate south towards Sango's rear.
"You stupid perverted monk!" Sango yelled as she threw the again-unconscious monk onto the floor, fresh hand marks on his face to go with the goose-egg the half demon had given him earlier.